What costs more - power increase or weight reduction? Where is the our dollar best spent? This probably isn't going to be a technical discussion for most people that ride a stock sled, more for those who usually look to get a little more than that.
OK so let's say you have a stock 800, with 160 HP and it weighs 550lbs (assumes 1/2 tank of fuel). This sled has a weight to power ratio of 3.44lbs/hp. That's to say - each HP has to move 3.44 lbs.
Now before you go off and say "Brand X only weighs ____", I will tell you not to bother because I don't want to hear what you read in some magazine about what the pre-production sled weighed with a tank full of helium under water. If you don't believe me that the average 800 class sled weighs about 600 lbs "ready-to-ride" then go weigh your sled full of fuel and oil, with full gas can on the back, add 10-15lbs for snow accumulation and prove me wrong. I assumed 550 lbs for the math because the sled will full in the morning and empty in the afternoon.
So if you are going to spend the $$$ - where would you spend it?
On the newer sleds there is less fat to trim but 30-40 lbs can be taken off and for a relatively low cost (around $1000 say). So for $1000 and a 35 lb reduction, you can get your lb/hp ratio down to 3.2 lb/hp. A lot of the weight reduction comes from things that you might not need and that is free weight reduction (speedo -where possible, headlight, extra bogies, hood, etc). Much of the $1000 would be spent on things like maybe a can, seat, etc.
So if you're down to 3.2, how does this compare to someone spending $1000 on motor mods (the "Power" in P vs W)? $1000 gets you pipes. It might get you a head and a fuel controller. Pipes are typically good for 15 HP on a given motor (just a #, likely on the higher end). Fuel controller and head probably about the same. NOS does not count, because its not something that can be there all day, but I do agree that NOS is money well spent, just not for this discussion.
So with the motor mods you are up to 175 HP, and you are at a 3.14 power to weight ratio.
Let's up the ante to $6000 - for $6K you would be able to build one heck of a lightweight sled, say you could drop the weight to 425 lbs wet = 2.65lbs/hp
How about the same $6K on motor - that's obvious - boost. $6000 gets you 225 HP (now anyone that tells me their boosted 800 makes way more than that needs to back it up with a dyno sheet.....) and a weight ratio of 2.53 with an adjusted weight of 570 lbs for the added turbo weight.
Comparatively on paper, power always wins. But we have not factored in how the lighter sled handles in the hills, how much less effort it is to ride, get unstuck, etc etc. Also, modified motors have a higher tendency for BOOM! so take into account the reduced lifespan or the potentially reduced riding time.
Most people seem to spend their $$$ right in the middle, a little bit on both sides of the power vs weight boundary. I'm more of a lightweight fan personally, and I try and get as much power without too much input cost, but by the pure math it looks like we should all go out and buy turbos.
Does knowing the math change anything? and if not, then why not?
OK so let's say you have a stock 800, with 160 HP and it weighs 550lbs (assumes 1/2 tank of fuel). This sled has a weight to power ratio of 3.44lbs/hp. That's to say - each HP has to move 3.44 lbs.
Now before you go off and say "Brand X only weighs ____", I will tell you not to bother because I don't want to hear what you read in some magazine about what the pre-production sled weighed with a tank full of helium under water. If you don't believe me that the average 800 class sled weighs about 600 lbs "ready-to-ride" then go weigh your sled full of fuel and oil, with full gas can on the back, add 10-15lbs for snow accumulation and prove me wrong. I assumed 550 lbs for the math because the sled will full in the morning and empty in the afternoon.
So if you are going to spend the $$$ - where would you spend it?
On the newer sleds there is less fat to trim but 30-40 lbs can be taken off and for a relatively low cost (around $1000 say). So for $1000 and a 35 lb reduction, you can get your lb/hp ratio down to 3.2 lb/hp. A lot of the weight reduction comes from things that you might not need and that is free weight reduction (speedo -where possible, headlight, extra bogies, hood, etc). Much of the $1000 would be spent on things like maybe a can, seat, etc.
So if you're down to 3.2, how does this compare to someone spending $1000 on motor mods (the "Power" in P vs W)? $1000 gets you pipes. It might get you a head and a fuel controller. Pipes are typically good for 15 HP on a given motor (just a #, likely on the higher end). Fuel controller and head probably about the same. NOS does not count, because its not something that can be there all day, but I do agree that NOS is money well spent, just not for this discussion.
So with the motor mods you are up to 175 HP, and you are at a 3.14 power to weight ratio.
Let's up the ante to $6000 - for $6K you would be able to build one heck of a lightweight sled, say you could drop the weight to 425 lbs wet = 2.65lbs/hp
How about the same $6K on motor - that's obvious - boost. $6000 gets you 225 HP (now anyone that tells me their boosted 800 makes way more than that needs to back it up with a dyno sheet.....) and a weight ratio of 2.53 with an adjusted weight of 570 lbs for the added turbo weight.
Comparatively on paper, power always wins. But we have not factored in how the lighter sled handles in the hills, how much less effort it is to ride, get unstuck, etc etc. Also, modified motors have a higher tendency for BOOM! so take into account the reduced lifespan or the potentially reduced riding time.
Most people seem to spend their $$$ right in the middle, a little bit on both sides of the power vs weight boundary. I'm more of a lightweight fan personally, and I try and get as much power without too much input cost, but by the pure math it looks like we should all go out and buy turbos.
Does knowing the math change anything? and if not, then why not?
and Merry Christmas to all at Snow and Mud!
